ECCE Junior (2.8-4 years)

We offer morning sessions for the free pre-school year. This session runs from 9am to 12noon. We use a combined Montessori and play based method to implement our Learning Tree Curriculum within this room.
Maria Montessori observed that children learn by doing. She designed her materials so that children in the classroom may manipulate them and learn through self – discovery. Montessori found that every child has their own unique pace of development. The Montessori approach is based on trusting this natural process and following the child’s lead rather than directing them.
Our play based method is based on the children’s emergent interests throughout the day. An emergent curriculum helps children become confident, happy and healthy. It ensures that they have a positive sense of who they are, develop a sense of their culture and heritage and feel valued and respected as part of a group. It encourages them to share their experiences, thoughts, ideas and feelings with growing confidence and competence in a variety of ways and for a variety of purposes.
In Higgy’s House we create a stimulating environment both indoors and outdoors that can help build a child’s knowledge and experiences, this will encourage them to become active learners and help them develop dispositions, skills, attitudes and values, knowledge and understanding. Both environments will influence what and how the children learn.
We provide a stimulating environment to promote independence, curiosity and give the children a sense of belonging. The Play based approach is also the foundation for Aistear, the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework, which we use to devise our curriculum.
We offer a wide range of activities such as science experiments, Ceol- Step into Music programme, baking, art & craft and outdoor play. Ballet lessons and Stretch n Grow classes are available for all our pre-school children as an optional extra. Payment is made to the outside provider by the parent.